Door-operating mechanism.



R. N. FLINT.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATloN FILED rEB.2.1911.

1,1 34,325. Patl'lted Apr. 6, 1915.

5 BHEETSTSHIHET 1.

R. N. FLINT. noon ORI-:RATING MEcHAmsM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. I9II.

Patented Apr.6, 1915.

s sums-SHEET z.

ZIN-TUR R. N. FL|NT.\ nooR OPERATING MEcHANlsM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2 I9II. v 1,134,325, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. N. FLINT.

AD'OOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. I9II.

1,134,325. I l Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SEEET 4.

W/TNESSES:

n. N. FLINT. l DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FIEB. 2 19H.

1,134,325. I Patented Aprv'.6,1915. i

SHEETS-BHEET 5- A jig 106 .97

lstruction all relating to fdoor operating mrnnrnrnr,@F.wasnmeronmlsrmcr .or coLUMBIA.

DOORfOPERATING MECHAN ISM.

Application 1ed= February 2, 1911.

Toull whom l#may concern Be it know-nthatfI, RALPH N. .FLINT, a citizenof theU-.nited States, and a resident of .Washingtomin the District of.Columbia, Ihave made and invented certainnew and useful'lmprovements inDoor-Operating Mechanism, sof which the following isa specification.

My invention relatesnto door operating mechanism particularly adaptedfor rotating vor swinging doors, andthe object thereof is .to provide adoor with motor mechanism normally inoperative to,l move the same, sothat thedoor is normally at rest; but which motor mechanism may move thedoor ina direction topermit. aperson to pass through the same, or in ladirection to open it, the two expressions being regarded as synonymous;said motormechanism being controlled and rendered operative to movethedoor in thedirection aforesaid by appropriate manually .operable.means located upon and partaking of. the. movement of the door; so4that `a personA upon approaching' the door will place his hand upon the.con-A trolling means and, upon operating the same, render the motormechanism operative to transmit motion to the door. The door. may be soarranged that it may readily be operated directly .by force communicatedto it by a person passing through the same so that should he fail tooperate the controlling means and thus render themotor mechanismoperative yto operate the door, he may nevertheless pass through-thedoor by merely pushing against it; or the door maybe packed so tightly,or move in such close contact with its casing, or the lsame may be soheavy as not to be operableby manual force, in either of which lastmentioned cases the door may notbe operated except by or with `theassistance of the motor.

Further objects ofmy invention are to provide various subordinate andauxiliary mechanism, and various features of conmechanism. for doorsvofthe type above referred to and contributing to or facilitating theobject of invention or endfirst above mentioned, all as illustrated inthe accompanying drawing and hereinafter disclosed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

,Patented Apr. e, 1915.

Serial No. 606,097.

While the motor mechanism as above eX- plained is normally inoperativeto move the door so that the door is Vnormally at rest, the motor itselfor source of power available forbperating the door and which motor is.by necessary inferenceincluded in the term motor mechanism may, as willhereinafter appear, operate either continuously or only when the door isto be moved, so that thev motor itself may be either normally at restor` normally in motion, the latter, however, being the preferablearrangement.

.With the above and other objects of invention in view, my inventionconsists in the door operating mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, described in the following specification, and particularlyclaimed in the concluding claims, and in such variations andmodifications thereof as will be obvious .to those skilled in the art t0which .my invention relates. Y vIn the drawings accompanying andforminga part ofthis application; F igure'l is a view partly in sectionillustrating an embodiment of my door operating mechanlsm applied to arotating door; Fig. 2 is a View .partly in section showing a circuitclosing device, or switch, which forms a part of my .device enlarged;Fig. .3 is a view in the nature of a diagram illustrating anotherembodimentbf my invention; Fig. 4 -is a diagrammatic view showinganother embodiment ofmy invention as applied to a rotating door; Fig. 5is a view showing in diagram .an auxiliary mechanism designed to be usedwiththe form of my invention illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. .6 is a diagramshowing a slightly modified form of an elementof my device; Fig. 7 is aview partly in section showing one form of my invention applied to aswinging door ;V Fig. 8 is a view showing a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 7 in plangFig. 9 is a -view showing another form .-ofcircuit closing den vice; Fig. 10 is a view showing a slightly modifiedform of the circuit closing device shown in Fig. 9.

Referring. to Fig. 1 of the drawing 1, 2 are two leaves or panels of arotating door having four separate leaves, it being. vunderstood,however, that my invention is in no way limited to or dependent upon theparticular number of leaves which radiate from or rotate about thecommon central axis about which the door considered as a whole rotates,and that the door as a whole may be made up of more or less than fourleaves. The leaves 1, 2 are supported by and rotate with a commoncentral axle 3 shown as in the form of a hollow metallic pipe or tubularshaft to which all the separate individual leaves such as 1 2, whatevermay be their number, are secured so as to be driven from such centralaxle. rlhe means whereby the separate leaves are secured to the axle 3are not shown in this ligure as my invention is in no way concerned withsuch securing means. In this figure the leaf 1 is supposed to move awayfrom the observer, although the door as a whole may of course bearranged to rotate in either direction.

The upper and lower ends of the axle 3 are rotatably supported in fixedsupports 4, 5, and 6, 7 are side and upper and lower casings withinwhich the door as an entirety rotates, the lower of the casings 7 beingon a level with the floor of the building in which the door is used, andthe side casings 6 being curved as will be understood so that at leastone of the several radiating leaves supported from the common centralaxle will always contact with the sideicasings 6, whereby anunobstructed passage through the door and through which wind might blowis avoided.

The reference character 8 designates one member of an electric clutch,the same being.

secured to so as to rotate with and drive the vertical axle 3. The othermember of the clutch is designated by 9, the same being loose upon theaxle and supported adjacent the clutch member 8 by means of a collar 10;and this loose clutch member 9 is provided with driving means shown ascomprising a sprocket wheel 11 secured to it and driven by a sprocketchain' 12, which in turn is driven from an electric motor 13 throughworm gearing at 14 and a second sprocket wheel at 15. The drivingmechanism for the loose clutch member 9 may, however, be varied, andother of the vpossible forms which such driving mechanism may assume areillustrated in the drawings and described hereinafter.

The electric motor 13 is supplied with electricity through the main linewires 16, the motor, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated inFig. 1, being in continuous operation whereby continuous rotary motionis imparted to the loose clutch mein- The reference character 17designates a contact ring rotating withbut insulated from the axle 3,and 18 is a second contact ring rotating with and grounded upon the axle3 so that current may flow from itl to the axle. Current is supplied tothese rings through wires 19 in shunt with the line wires 16 whichsupply the motor 13, and brushes 20, 21 which bear upon the rings; anadjustable resistance being preferably interposed at 22 to regulate thecurrent owing through'the wires 19. The insulated contact ring 17 isconnected with one end of the coil 23 of the clutch member 8 by means ofa wire 24 located, preferably, within the hollow axle 3, and the otherend of this coil 23 is connected by means of a wire 25 extending also,preferably, through the hollow axle 3 with a distributing ring 26secured to but insulated from the'axle 3. From the distributing ring 26conductors 27, one for each separate leaf such as 1, 2 extend along theleaves and to separate circuit closing devices, one such circuit closingdevice being located upon each separate leaf and the same, consequently,partaking of the rotary motion of the door considered as a whole.

The circuit closing devices are designated by the reference numeral 28,and it will be understood that the distributing ring 26 forms in effecta multiple connection whereby all the circuit closing devices areconnected in parallel with the clutch member coil 23 through the wire 25and wires 27. Fig. 2, illustrates the circuit closing device Vor switch28 in detail, the same comprising in the embodiment of my inventionillustratedein these figures a metallic casing 29 secured to the leaf 1adjacent its outer edge, which frame is provided with a cylinder 30which acts as a dash pot to cause the switch to operate slowly as willhereinafter appear. A piston 31 operates in the cylinder 30; and the rod32 of this piston is connected with a movable member or lever 33 thefree end of which is pivoted at 34 adjacent the inner edge of the door;so that, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, theseveral levers 33 appear as barsextending across the leaves and spacedsomewhat from the surface thereof, so as to bein a position .such that aperson wishingto pass through the door may conveniently and willnaturally place his hand upon a lever 33 and swing it downward about itspivotal point 34.

35 is a spring which acts to normally hold the lever mits upper positionshown in Fig. 1 and 1n dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The lever 33 carries an arm 36 at its freer outer end, which .armcarries a contact or brush 37 whlch rests upon a block of insulatmgmaterial 38 embedded in the metallic casing 29 when the lever 33 is inits upper i position, whereby the circuit controlled by the swltch 28.is normally broken. The inner end of the lever 33 is electrically con--nected with the axle 3 and, consequently,

nieuwe is duplicated for each of the separate leaves l, 2, etc., withwhich the door considered as a whole may be provided, each of saidseveral separate leaves being provided with separate switches:independent of one another but through any one of which a How of currentmay be established through the. coil 23 of the clutch member 8.

40 is a spring for pressing the brush 37 against the surface over whichit moves as the free end of the lever 33 is depressed. The conductor 27will preferably take the form of a bar extending across the door toprotect the glass commonly present, and, while the lever 33 is referredto in a Way to imply that it is of metal, it may obviously benon-metallic with a conducting wire connecting the brush 37 with theaxle 3.

The operation of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is asfollows: A person approaching the leaf 1 will place his hand upon thelever 33 and swing the free right hand end thereof downward, thus movingthe brush 37 oit the block of insulating material 38 and into contactwith the metallic casing 29; whereupon current will flow from the brush20 through the insulated contact ring 17 and the wire 24 to and throughcoil 23 of the clutch member 8, through wire 25 to the insulateddistributing ring 26, and through the conductor 27 to the metalliccasing 29 ofthe circuit closer or switch 28, through brush 37, and lever33- and link 39 to the metallic axle 3,

through said axle and grounded contact ring 18 to brush 21, and throughthe circuit 19 connected in shunt with the line 16 through which currentflows" to operate the motor 13 continuously as hereinbefore explainedThe clutch member 8 being, as will be understood, made of iro-n, is thusmagnetized, and the clutchmember 9, being also made of iron, will beattracted and moved into contact with and held firmly against the lowerface of the.

clutch member 8. The driven clutch member 9, which normally rotatesfreely upon the axle 3, will now communicate rotary motion to the clutchmember 8 fast upon the axle 3, and, as will be understood, to therotating door as a whole, thus enabling the lperson to follow the door 1and pass through.

Persons passing through a door in a direction opposite to the directionabove indicated will obviously approach .the leaf 2 from its fartherside and close the switch 1ocated 'thereupon precisely as aboveexplained, it being obvious that the operation of. the driving-means isin no Way affected by the fact that two or more switches 28 aredepressed at the same time. Should a person in passing through the doornot depress the lever 33 it is obv1ous that he may rotate the door bymerely pushing against the leaf 1, the manual operation of the door as awhole being in no way ali'ected by the presence of the motor operatingmechanism with which it is provided.

The dash pot 30 is provided in order that should a person depress thelever 33 and immediately remove his hand therefrom the arm 33 will beelevated by the spring 35, but slowly, so that the circuit controlled bythe switch 28 will remain closed for an appreciable time asl while thedoor rotates through say something like one third of a rotation, and, incase a number of persons pass through the door in one or both directionsand all depress the levers 33 the door will4 obviously rotate throughabout onel third of a rotation after the last has removed his. hand froma lever, and then come to rest.

The current flowing 'through the coil 23 may obviously be regulated bythe adjustable resistance 22, and the current will be so regulated as tohold the clutch members 8 and 9 together with but little more force thanis necessary in order to rotate the door, so that should a person stopin passing through the door, or should he fall, the clutch members willslip and the door stop rather than force the person along to hispossible injury.

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a scheme whereby the motor whichoperates the rotating door is normally at rest or inoperative. Thebrushes 20, 21 and the entire controlling and door operating mechanism,except that the operating motor is normally at rest, is precisely thesame as above'described. In this figure 42 is the main circuit whichextends through the motor 41 and is normally broken at 43 but may beclosed by means of the armature or switch 47 of an electromagneticdevice or relay 48, this circuit including a solenoid 44. The referencenumeral 4'5 indicates a shunt circuit which includes in series anautomatically variableresistance 46; a slidclutch member 8; the rcircuitclosers or switches 28 upon the leaves, and the brush 21; and a relay 48the armature 47 of which closes the main circuit 42 at 43 when a currentflows in the shunt circuit above traced.

tively rconnected with a piston 50 movabley in a retarding cylinder 51which may contain a liquid, or air only; and said plunger is alsooperatively connected with a slidlng contact 52 which moves over and incontact with a plurality of terminals 53 whereby the a plurality for"sections. The plunger is shown as being provided with a squared-adjustable resistance 42 is sub-divided into i or flattened metallicrod 54 which moves vertically and is guided by a roller 55, a slidingcontact being established between the rod and the shunt circuit 454 bythe contact spring 56whereby the continuity of the shunt circuit ismaintained, the sliding contact 52 being carried by the rod 54aforesaid. The piston 5() is provided lwith a permanently open passage57 and with a second passage 58 provided with a valve 59 which opens asthe piston moves downward, so that the piston 50 will move slowly in anupward direction but more rapidly in a downward direction. 60 is aspring which normally holds the armature 47 in the position shown. If,then, a switch 28 upon the rotating door be operated as above explainedthe shunt circuit 45 will be closed and current will flow from thepositive side of the line 42 through the adjustable resistance 46;sliding contact 52; rod 54; sliding contact' 56; brush 20; coil 23;switch 28 upon the door and to brush21; through the relay 48 and to thenegative side of the line 42. The relay 48 being thus energized the maincircuit 42 will be closed at 43 andfcurrent ,thus permitted to flowthrough the motor 41 which will start'under no load because of the factthat, while current is flowing through the coil 23 of the clutch member8, its volume is small, because of the resistance 4.6 in series with it,and insuflicient to magnetize the clutch member 8 suflicient, to attractand hold the clutch member 9, which, as will be understood, while it isdriven by the motor as it starts runs as yet loose upon the axle 3 andconstitutes l an inappreciable load. The main circuit being thus closedand the motor started the solenoid 44 is energized and the plunger 49being attracted thereby moves upward carrying the sliding `contact 52with it, thusy progressively cutting out the variable resistance 46. Asthe resistance 46 is cut out of the shunt circuit 45 the current there'through and through the coil 23 of the clutch member' 8 increases involume until, finally, and at about the time when the motor 41 shallhave attained its. full speed, such current will be sufficient tomagnetize the clutch member 8 suiiiciently to attract and hold theclutch member` 9; after which the door will be4 rotated by the motor 41through the clutch member 9. When the shunt circuit is broken lat theswitch 28 the plunger 49, piston 50 and parts connected therewith returnquickly to their original position because of the valve 59, the maincircuit 42 being broken at 43 as will be understood. This forni ofoperating mechanism is, perhaps, less prompt/in .action than the formpreviously described, but is 'partrolling means being the same infconstruction as hereinbefore described. The automatically variableresistance 46, solenoid 44, plunger 49, cylinder 51 and elementscooperating therewith and above described are repeated in this view assuch elements form a part of the operating mechanism of the form of mydevice disclosed in this figure, although it will be understood that theresistance and number of turns ofthe solenoid, and the amount ofvariable resistance'employed, are not necessarily the same in bothcases, these being matters of design dependent upon the electricalfeatures of the system as a whole.

In the embodiment of my door operating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4the clutch mechanism is removed from the axle 43 and is supported uponindependent bearings 61. The clutch mechanism comprises a clutch member62 secured to a shaft 63 which drives the axle 3 through gearing 64, 65,and which clutch member is provided with a coil 66 the terminals ofwhich are connected with contact rings 67, 68 insulated by means of asleeve 69 of insulatin material, and upon which rings brushes 0, 71 bearwhereby current may -be supplied to the coil 66. Loosely mounted uponthe shaft 63 is a second clutch member 72 the periphery of which isformed as a gear, and 3 is a pinion in driving engagement with theclutch member 72, said pinion being upon the shaft 74 of the armature ofthe electric motor 75 which drives the axle 3 of the doors through themechanism just described. 76 is a relay, 77 its armature, and 78 is aspring for normally holding the armature in the position shown. In theoperating Vmeans here described 79 is the main circuit which supplies inshunt the field magnet coils 80 of the motor 75 whereby the fieldmagnets are a1- ways magnetized. A shunt circuit 81 leads from the maincircuit 79 and includes in series the brush 21, grounded contact ring18, .link .39, lever 33, switch 28, conductor 27, distributing ring 26,conductor 82,.insu lateducontact ring 17, brush 20, and relay 76; and,upon this circuit being closed by the switch or circuit closer 28current will flow through the circuit above traced, thus energizin therelay 76 and attracting the armature thereof and closing another circuitto be next traced. A second shunt 83 leads from the main circuit 79 andincludes-in series the armature 84 of the motor 75, contact 85 df therelay 76 at which point this circuit is normally broken, armature 77 ofthe relay 76, brush 70, contact ring 68, coil 66 ofthe clutch member 62,contact ring 67, brush circuit being in series, the armature willI startto rotate when this circuit is closed thus driving the clutch member 72,but not the clutch member 62 because the volume of current is not as yetsufficient to magnetize the clutch member 62 to a degree suflicient toprevent the clutch member 7 2 from slipping The plunger 49 now beginstorise due to the current in the solenoid 44, thus progressively cuttingout the resistance 46 as the contact 452 moves over the contacts 53.This action is accompanied by an increase in current flowing through theclrouit in question, and

` a consequent increase in speed of the armature 84 of the motor 75, andthe parts will be so proportioned that at about the time that thearmature reaches its proper speed the clutch member 62, will bemagnetized to such a degree that the clutch member 72 will be held incontact therewith with suilicient force to prevent the clutch membersfrom slipping, whereupon motion will be transmitted to the axle 3 androtary motion imparted to the door. The upward movement of the plunger49 will be retarded as hereinbefore explained, so that the resistancewill not be cut out and the motor started too rapidly, and upon thefirst mentioned circuit 81 being broken at the switch 28 the relay 76will be denergized and the second circuit 83 broken at 85, whereupon thesolenoid 44 is denergized and the plunger 49 will descend rapidly.

Fig. -5 illustrates in diagram an arrangement for use with acontinuouslyv operatingmotor such as is illustrated in Fig. 1, but inwhich means lare provided for gradually increasing the current'throughthe coil 2,3 of' the clutch memnber 8 of the magnetic clutch after aflow of current has been established therethrough by closing the circuitby means of the switch 28 upon the door. In this figure 16 is the maincircuit .through which current is supplied to the motor 13, and 86 is ashunt circuit which includes in series an automatically variableresistance 46 having terminals 53 as hereinbefore described, a solenoid87, insulated contact ring 17, the coil 23, the circuit closer 28, andthegrounded ring 18; so that when the circuit is closed by operating thecircuit closer 28 current will flow through the variable resistance 46,solenoid 87 and coil23 iii-series. The result will be that the initialcurrent through these elements will be small in volume and insufficientto magnetize the clutch member8suiiiciently to hold the clutch member 9in contact therewith with suicient force to prevent slipping. As soon,however, as current begins to flow through the solenoid 87 the plunger49 will be drawn upward thus moving the sliding contact 91I overtheterminals 53 and progress'ively cutting out the resistance 46 until,finally, the clutch members 8 and 9 are held together with suliicientforce to secure'the transmission of motion to the door in a mannerhereinbefore explained. This mechanism is provided with a retardingcylinder 51 like the one hereinbefore described. In the mechanism shownin Fig. 5 the current instead of flowin through the rod 54 and a slidingcontact ike the contact 56, flows from the sliding contact 91 through aflexible coiiductor 88 connected therewith and to a block 89 included inthe circuit 86, guide rollers 90 being provided for guiding the upperend of the rod 54.

Fig. 6 illustrates an arrangement Whereby the sliding contact 56 shownin Figs. 3 and 4 may be avoided. In this figure the sliding contact 92is shown as connected with a block 93 by means of a flexible conductor94, the said members 92, 93 and 94 being included in the circuit 45 or83 as the case may be.

It will be understood that the door operating mechanisms shown in Figs.1 and 4, and contemplated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, move 100 a leaf of thedoor through somethinglike one-fourth of a rotation and thenbecomeinactive until another of the switches 28 is operated; If, then, but oneleaf be employed the door becomes a swinging door and any of the formsof my invention above disclosed may be used to swing such a door about avertical axis at one side thereof and thus open the same. Such anarrangement Without more would, however, leave the door open, so thatwhen my door operating mechanism is used to operate swinging doors somesort of a door closing device will be employed to return the door to itsclosed position after it has been opened by the motor mechanism.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated the form of my door operatingmechanism shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a swinging door, it beingunderstood, however, that any of the other forms are equally welladapted for such a purpose. In these figures 95 1s a swinging doorsupported byv a vertical axle 96 supported in bearings 97 and `mov ableaway .from the observer, referring to Fig. 7, tov open-the door. Thereference numeral 98 indicates a clutch member fast. upon the axle 96,and 99 is a second clutch member loose'u on the axle 96 andcontinuouslyxdriven rom an electric motor 100 130 Aeo through gearing101 and a sprocketchain 102. The axle 96 carries a grounded contact ring103 and an insulated contact ring 104, and 105, 106 are brushes incontact with these rings. The clutch member 98 is provided with a coil107, one end of which is connected with the contact ring 104 and theother with the metallic casing of a switch or circuit closer 108 locatedupon and partaking of the movement of the door 95, current from thisswitch being conducted through the swinging lever 109 thereof andthrough a conducting link 110 to the axle 96 and grounded ring 103. Itwill thus be seen that when the shunt circuit 111 is closed at 108 theclutch member 98 will be magnetized and the door swung into an openposi- Ytion by the motor 100 which receives its supply of current fromthe main line 112. The door 95 is returned to its closed position by adoor closer. 113 of any suitable form but preferably of the form inwhich door closing and cushioning or checking functions are present in asingle unitary structure.

The switch mechanism for closing the controlling circuitwhen a swingingdoor is used may be of the form hereinbefore disclosed. I prefer,however, to employ the form shown in Fig. 9, which form, conversely, maybe used with a rotary door, the distinguishing feature of which form isthat the lever which accomplishes the closing of the circuit moves in ahorizontal plane and in the same direction as the door to close thecircuit which it controls. In Fig. 9, 114 is the metallic body portionof the switch member, 115 is a brush normally spring pressed outwardcarried by the oscillating lever 109 and which normally rests upon ablock 116 of insulating material, 117 is a cylinder,vand 118 is a pistonmoving therein to thereby form a dash pot, and 119 is a rod connectingthe piston with the lever 109. The piston 118 is provided with a minutepassage .120, and a spring 121 is provided to keep the lever 109normally in its outer position shown inA Fig. 9, ad torreturn it ktothat position after it has been pressed toward the door by a person whowould pass therethrough. The lever 109 is shown as pivoted to the leftlhand side of the door at 122. In Fig. 10 the rod 119 is shown asprolonged through the cylinder 117 and provided with a handle 123, thisbeing one arrangement whereby the controlling circuit may be closed .andthe door opened by a person who wishes to pass through the door from thefarther side thereof, referring to Fig. 7.

In view of the premises it will be understood that in all the forms ofmy invention -illustrated and described, the door is normally at restand the motor mechanism whereby the door is to be moved in a directionto .open'it is normally in condition such and moving with the door asexplained,`

whereby the motor mechanism is rendered operative to open the door;whereupon the door will open or rotate and permit the per-` son to passthrough the door, the motion of the door continuing as long as the motorcontrolling mechanism is controlled by the person passing through thedoor, and preferably for a short time after the person has released suchcontrolling mechanism. While the door, because of the fact that the sameis normally inoperatively connected with the operating' motor mechanism,is free to be operated at all times so that a person may passtherethrough by pushing upon the door and without bringing. theoperating mechanism into operative relation -with the door, my inventionis especiallyand perhaps best adapted for use with doors in which thefriction between the casing and the door in the ease of rotating doorsis sov great, and for use with doors which are so heavy, that they couldnot be conveniently operated Without motor mechanism to move or assistin moving them.

ico

Having thus described my'invention and explained the operationthereof Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In door operating mechanism, a door comprising a rotary central axleand a plurality of leaves or panels carried by said axle; a motornormally disconnected from said axle; electrically operated clutchmechanism between said motor and said axle, the same being normallyinactive to transmit motion to said axle; a circuit in which said clutchmechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplying current tosaid circuit ;y and a switch .adapted to control the flow of electricitythrough said circuit to thereby operate said clutch mechanism andoperatively connect said motor with said axle through said clutchmechanism, said switch being located upon and partaking of .the movementof said door.

2. In door operating mechanism, a door comprising arotary central axleand a plurality of leaves or panels carried by said axle; a continuouslyoperating motor; electrically operated clutch mechanism between saidYmotor and saidv axle, the samebeing normally inactive to transmitmotion to said axle; acircuit. in which said clutch mechanism is;included; a source of electricity for supplying current to said circuit;and a switch adapted to control the flow of electricity through saidcircuit to thereby operate said clutch mechanism and operatively connectsaid motor with said axle through said clutch mechanism, said switchbeing located upon and partaking of the movement of said door.

3. The combination with a door movable in a. direction to open it byforce communicated thereto by a person passing through the same, of amotor adapted to open the door; electrically operated clutch mechanismbetween said motorv and the door, the same being normally inactive totransmit motion to the door; a circuit in which said clutch mechanism isincluded; a source of electricity for supplying current to said circuit;a 'switch located upon and partaking of the movement of the door andadapted to coll.- trol the flow of electricity through said clutchmechanism to thereby actuate said clutch mechanism and operativelyconnect said motor with the door through said clutch mechanism and meansfor retarding the movement of said switch in a direction to open saidcircuit after the circuit has been closed by said switch.

4. rlhe combination with a door movable in a direction to open it byforce communicated thereto by a person passing through the same, of acontinuously operating motor` adapted to open the door; electricallyoperatedclutch mechanism between said motor and the door, the same beingnormally inactive to transmit motion to the door; a circuit in whichsaid clutch mechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplyingcurrent to said circuit; a switch located upon and partaking of themovement of the door and adapted to control the iiow of electricitythrough said clutch mechanism to thereby actuate said clutch mechanismand operatively connect said motor with the door Lthrough said clutchmechanism and means for retarding the movement of said switch in adirection to open said circuit after. the circuit has been closed bysaid switch.

5. In door operating mechanism, a door; a motor; electrically operatedclutch mechanism between said motor and said door, the same beingnormally inactive to transmit motion to said door; a circuit in whichsaid clutch mechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplyingcurrent to. said circuit; a variable resistance in said circuit inseries with said electrically operated clutch mechanism; a solenoidthrough which a current of electricity flows; means actuated by saidsolenoid for progressively cutting out said variable resistance; and aswitch adapted to control the How of electricity through said circuit tothereby operate said clutch mechanism and operatively connect said motorwith said door through said clutch mechanism, said switch being locatedupon and partaking of the movement of said door and the direction ofmotion of said motor being such that it operates the door in a directionto open the same.

6. In door operating mechanism, a door; a motor; electrically peratedclutch mechanism between said motor and said door, the same beingnormally inactive to transmit motion to said door; a circuit in whichsaid clutch mechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplyingcurrent to said circuit; a variable resistance and a solenoid in saidcircuit in series with one another and with said electrically operatedclutch mechanism; means actuated by said solenoid for progressivelycutting out said variable resistance; and a switch adapted to controlthe flow of electricity through said circuit to thereby operate saidclutch mechanism and operatively connect said motor with said y doorthrough said clutch mechanism, said switch being located upon andpartaking of the movement of said door and the direction of motion ofsaid motor being such that it operates the door in a direction to openthe same.

7. The combination with a door movable in a direction to open it byforce communicated thereto by a person passing through the same, of amotor adapted to open the door; electrically' operated clutch mechanismbetween said motor and the door, the same being normally inactive totransmit motion to the door; a circuit in which said clutch mechanism isincluded; a source of electricity for supplying current to said circuit;a variable resistance in said circuit in series with said electricallyoperated clutch mechanism; a solenoid through which a current ofelectricity flows; means actuated by said solenoid for progressivelycutting out said variable resistance; and a switch located upon andpartaking of the movement of the door and adapted to control the low ofelectricity through said clutch mechanism to thereby actuate said clutchmechanism and operatively connect said motor with the door through saidclutch mechanism.

8. rl`he combination with a door movable in a direction to open it byforce communicatedthereto by a person passing through the same, ofv amotor adapted to open the door; electrically operated clutch mechanismbetween said motor and the door, the

same being normally inactive to transmit motion to the door; a circuitin which said iclutch mechanism is included; a source of taking of themovement of the door and adapted to control the flow of electricitythrough said clutch mechanism to thereby actuate said clutch ymechanismand' operatively connect said motor with the door through said clutchmechanism.

9. In door operating mechanism, a door; a motor; electrically operatedclutch mechanism between said motor and said door, the same beingnormally inactive to transmit motion to said door; a circuit in whichsaid clutch mechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplyingcurrent to said circuit; a switch included in said circuit forcontrolling the flow of electricity therethrough to thereby operate saidclutch mechanism and operatively connect said motor with said doorthrough said clutch mechanism, said switch being located upon andpartaking of the movement of said door and the direction of motion ofsaid motor being such that it operates the door` in a vdirection to openthe same and a dash-pot operatively associated with said switch andacting to retard the opening movement thereof after it has been moved toclose said circuit.

10. The combination with a door movable in a direction to open it byforce communicated thereto by a person passing through the same, of amotor adapted to open the door; electrically operated clutch mechanismbetween said motor and the door, the same being normally inactive totransmit motion to the door; a circuit in'which said clutch mechanism isincluded; a source of electricity for supplying current to said circuit;a switch included in said circuit and located upon and parta-king of themovement of the door forcontrolling the flow of electricity through saidclutch mechanism to thereby actuate said clutch mechanism andoperatively connect said motor with thedoor through said clutchmechanism; and a dash-pot operatively associated with said switch andacting to retard the opening movement thereof after it has been moved toclose said circuit.

11. In combination, a rotary door; a motor for operating said door.;electrically operated clutch mechanism between said motor and door andwhich clutch mechanism is normally inactive to transmit motion to saiddoor; a circuit in which said clutch mechanism is included; a sourceofelectricity for supplying current to said circuit; and a circuitclosing device located uponand partaking of thev movement of said doorand adapted to control said circuit to thereby operatively connect saidmotor with said door through said clutch mechanism.

y 12. Indoor operating mechanism, a door comprising a rotary centralaxle and a plurality of leaves or panels carried'by said axle; anelectric motor for driving said axle,

said motor being normally disconnected from said axle; a circuit throughwhich electricity may iiow to operate said motor; electrically operatedclutch mechanism between said motor and said axle; a switch located uponand partaking of the movement of said door; a second circuit whereinsaid switch and said clutch mechanism are included; means for supplyingelectricity to said circuits; and an electrically operated circuitclosing device included in said second mentioned circuit and operable bya current of electricity flowing therethrough for closing said firstmentioned circuit and thus rendering said motor operative to rotate saidaxle.

13. In combination, a rotary door; a continuously operating electricmotor for operating said door; a circuit through which electricity mayflow to operate said motor; electrically operated clutch mechanismbetween said motor and door and which clutch mechanism is normallyinactive to transmit motion to said door; a circuit in which said clutchmechanism is included; a source of electricity for supplying current toboth said circuits; and a circuit closing device located upon andpartaking of the movement of said door and adapted to control saidsecond mentioned circuit to thereby operatively connect said'motor withsaid door through said clutch mechanism.

14. In door operating mechanism, a door comprising a rotary central axleand a plurality of leaves or panels carried by said axle; an electricmotor for driving said axle; said motor being normally disconnectedf'romsaid axle; electrically operated clutch mechanism between said motor andsaid axle; means for supplying electricity to said clutch mechanism tooperatively connect said motor with said axle when the door is to berotated; a circuit through which electricity may flow to operate saidmotor; a switch locatedupon and partaking of the movement of said door;a

vsecond circuit wherein said switch is included; means for supplyingelectricity to said circuit; and an electrically `operated circuitclosing device included in said second mentioned circuit and operable bya current of electricity flowing therethrough for closing said rstmentioned circuit and thus rendering said motor operative to rotate saidaxle.

15. In door operating mechanism, a door; an electric motor for movingsaid door, said motor being normally disconnected from said door; acircuit through which electricity may flow to operate said motor; asolenoid included in said circuit; electrically operated clutchmechanism between said motor and said door; a switch located upon andpartaking of the movement of said door; a second circuit wherein saidswitch and said clutch mechanism are included, and

which circuit includes also a variable resistance; means operated bysaid solenoid for progressively cutting said variable resistance out ofthe circuit in which it is included; means for supplying electricitytosaid circuits; and an electrically operated circuit closing deviceincluded in said second mentioned circuit and operable by ya current ofelectricity flowing therethrough for closing said first mentionedcircuit'and thus rendering said motor operative to move said door.

16. In door operating mechanism, a door; an electric motor for movingsaid door, said motor being normally disconnected from said door;electrically operated clutch mechanism between said motor and said door;means for supplying electricity to said clutch mechanism to operativelyconnect said motor with said door when the door is to be moved; acircuit through which electricity may iiow to operate said motor; asolenoid included in said circuit; a switch located uponl and partakingof the movement of said door; a second circuit wherein said switch isincluded; a variable resistance included in said second circuit; meansoperated .by said solenoid for progressively cutting said variableresistance rout of the circuit in which it is included;

means for supplying electricity to said circuits; and an electricallyoperated circuit closing device included in said. second mentionedcircuit and operable by a current of 'electricity flowing therethroughfor closing said first mentioned circuit and thus rendering said motoroperative to move saiddoor.

17. The combination with a door movable in a direction to open it byforce communi- :'cated thereto by a person passing through the same, ofan electric motor adapted to open the door, said motor being normallydisconnected from the door; a switch located upon and partaking of themovement of the ldoor; a circuit wherein said switch is included; asource of electricity for supplying current to said circuit; anelectrically operated circuit closing device inriuded in said circuitand operable by a current of electricity flowing therethrough forestablishing a flow of electricity through and thus rendering said motoroperative; and electrically operated clutch mechanism for `operativelyconnectin said motor with said door.

18. In oor operating mechanism, a door;

variable resistance in series with said clutchl mechanism; means forestablishing a flow of electricity through ,said clutch mechanism andvariable resistance to operatively connect said motor with said doorwhen the door is to be moved; a circuit through which electricity mayflow to operate said motor; a

solenoid included in'said circuit; .a switch located upon and partakingof the movement of said door; a second circuit wherein said switch isincluded; means operated by said solenoid for progressively reducing theamount of variable resistance .in series with said clutch mechanism; andan electrically operated circuit closing ldevice included in said secondmentioned circuit and operable by a current of electricity flowingtherethrough for closing said first mentioned circuit and thus renderingsaid motor operative to move said door.

19. In combination, a. rotary door; an electric motor for operating saiddoor; a circuit through which a current of electricity may flow tooperate said motor; electically operated clutch mechanism between saidmotor and door and which clutch mechanism is normally inactive totransmit motion to said door; a circuit in which said clutch lmechanismis included; means for supplying electricity to said circuits; a switchlocated upon and partalring of the movement of said door and adapted tocontrol the flow of electricity through said second mentioned circuit tothereby operatively connect said motor with said door through saidclutch mechanism; and an electrically operated circuit closing deviceincluded in said secondmentioned circuit and adapted to control saidfirst mentioned circuit.

20. In combination7 a rotary door; an'

Vconnect said motor with said door through said connecting means.

21. In combination, a rotary door; an electric motor for operating saiddoor, said motor being normally disconnected from vvsaid door; a circuitthrough which a current of electricity may flow to operate said motor;electrically operated means intermediate said motor and door and throughwhich said motor-may be operatively connected with said door; a circuitin which said connecting means is included; means for supplyingelectricity to said circuits; a

switch 'located upon and pai-taking of thev movement of said door andadapted to control the flow of electricity through said second mentionedcircuit to thereby operatively im v 1,134,325

connect said motor with said door through State of New York, this 30thday of Janusaid connecting means; and an electrically ary, A. D. 1911.

operated circuit closing device included in said second mentionedcircuit and adapted RALPH N' FLINT' 5 to 'control said first mentionedcircuit. Witnesses:

Signed at New York, borough of Man- A. V. WALSH,

hatten, in the county of New York, and H. M. WHITE.

